[3] The Puma AE can operate at temperatures ranging from −20 to 120 °F (−29 to 49 °C), wind speeds up to 25 knots (29 mph; 46 km/h), and an inch of rain per hour (25.4mm/h).

The drone carries an array of sensors, including a times-fifty optical zoom, to live-stream video back to its ground station.

[6][7] On 26 July 2013, the Puma became one of the first unmanned aerial vehicles to be granted certification by the Federal Aviation Administration to fly in U.S. airspace for commercial purposes.

[8] The UK tested ISR (intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance) packages compatible with the Puma AE on board the M80 Stiletto trials ship in November 2014.

[12] In August 2016, AeroVironment announced the U.S. Navy had tested and deployed the RQ-20B Puma aboard a Flight I Guided Missile Destroyer.